Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Pours a little short of jet black as it picks up some deep mochas and ruby highlights when held to the light. Pours with a bit more effervesence than you normally see, with a quickly forming light tan head and some uncharacteristic bubbling along the side of the glass. Things quickly settle down and the beer begins to look more like a true impy.

The smell is more fruit forward: figs, plums, prune, and caramel. Other than a light coffee smell, there is very little roastiness on the nose.

The mouthfeel is where Black Rain shows its first classic RIS quality: thick, full-bodied, its oil slickness is moderated by just the right amount of carbonation. After the initial appearance, the mouthfeel is a pleasant surprise.

The taste starts with a sweet medley that was foreshadowed by the smell: some caramel, plum and raisin, but with a little vanilla and molasses. As things develop, a bit of coffee bitterness and leather come in to provide a bit of balance. That said, this is definitely on the sweet side of the spectrum and there's not quite enough roastiness to round out the experience. There's also a bit of alcohol on the finish that would normally blend with a roasted malt note. Here, it seems out of place(the alcohol presence is surprising since, at 8.2%, BR is not at the high end of the style). Other than that, this beer is very good effort. It won't blow your mind, but it's worth your time (and at $4.99 per bomber it's one of the better RIS bargains this side of Old Rasputin).

1pt 6floz bottle, added on as an extra from my ebay purchase of dark lord. poured into guinness tulip pint glass. I just noticed that this is a twist off bottle, and that there is no expiration or bottled on date.

A- -head forms very slowly, and eventually gets its medium brown self up to about one finger before fizzing back down to a 1/3 finger coating of fine small bubbles the beer pours a bit thick and is a very pitch dark brown color, with some reds coming in through the bottom. pretty average looking: needs a lot more head and some better retention for what it does get. the colour would also make the shift to pitch black instead of an opaque brown. but mainly the lack of head makes me think it is a dud or something like that.

S - very fragrant and can smell it quite clearly as it sits on the coffee table. top notes are of caramel, and coffee. midground is an almost licorice like note, the dark sweedish kind of course, and dark roasted malts make up this transitional shift from the mid to back. the nose is quite elusive for the lower tiers of flavour, not really letting one grasp fully onto any one note, aside from the caramel coffee.

T - the first thing i noticed was an almost lacto like sourness, and the usual flavours. initial taste is malt and dark chocolate bitterness, that lacto sour, and some molasses. finish is a bit odd, its a the slight sourness and dark chocolate. after taste is primarily dark chocolate, with a light sweetness on the lips from the malts. not that powerful a beer, and one that i would not particularly buy again, though i would gladly drink a bunch of it on tap if a place had it, it is a vast improvement over the majority of most things on tap.

MF&D - the feel is a bit thin at times for some reason, but the carbonation is really great and thickens it right up, as long as it is cold that is. the carbonation looses it punch too quickly for my taste, and thus it looses some of the viscosity.

Smell: The alcohol in this is not strong and there are dark fruits, dried raisins and figs and roasted malts.

Taste: This opens mellow with low carbonation with malts which intensify as it ends. There are hints of raisins and dates which come through in the middle and linger to the finish. There is a sweet dried dark fruit aftertaste with a mild and brief hop profile.

D: I was hesitant when I purchased this one. At $2 for a bomber, I wasn't expecting much, but Lagunitas makes decent beers, so I thought I would give it a try. Well, while my expectations were met, that isn't saying much. Other than the alcohol content, I would never consider this beer an Imperial Stout. It is quite weak in flavor and is especially thin, though these qualities do make it somewhat easier to drink.

Pours a deep garnet, just a bit of foam that disappears quickly.Lots of roasty char in the smell, a bit of burnt charcoal with a slight metallic twang. Taste is much like the smell with some mild milk chocolate thrown in. Some slight raisin note as well. Just a bit of alcohol in the finish. Nicely creamy and dense. Easy enough to drink but not the best stout out there.

Pours a thin very dark brown color, almost black. The heads disappears quickly to just a few outer bubbles. The aroma is a roasted malty with some hints of chocolate. The mouthful is extremely thin and smooth almost silky. There is some nice bitterness with a trace of alcohol. Also get a nice sweet brown sugar. But overall a little lacking... There's almost no aftertaste, leaving you wondering if you even drank anything. At $5.00 this is a great value beer.

Black color with some faint blood highlights. Pretty quick head that recedes to nothing pretty quick. Semi-viscous looking liquid. Mellow roasted malts swirled with caramel, brown sugar and ripened fruits. Sweet, malty, and full aroma. Very smooth and creamy palate from start to finish. Definetly let this beer warm up a little. Just a mellow and thorough flavor that stays steady throughout, from front to back of the palate. Great roasted malt flavor that mixes with some caramel syrup. Then some creamy marshmellows blended with oven roasted fruits. This beer is super smooth, silky, and very easy to drink considering the abv.

This beer makes me feel very special. Since this beer is available only to Sam's Wines & Spirits customers in IL!!!

22 from Sam's DG. Poured thinner than expected for an imperial stout. Thin off-white head that dissipated very quickly. Aromas were fruity with a hint of chocolate and coffee. Mouth-feel was rather thin & flavors consisted of overly fruity esters, mild cocoa and chocolate, and a lingering of alcohol. This seemed to be lacking a dominant presence of roasted malt and robustness that is expected for the style. It was worth the try, but would not recommend.

Burnt toffee, burnt caramel, burnt currents, burnt, roasted malt, burnt or blackened grain, cream, espresso. Hints of leather and tobacco? Tastes like it was brewed with lots of 150 L (very very dark) crystal malt, as well as roasted malt and grain.

Harsh at times but not acrid. Demanding, complex, wonderful. A stiff drink; a sipper. Lingering burnt bitterness which melds with hops bitterness. No tawny port character as was advertised by Sam's Wine. Maybe with some aging, though.

At $4.49, a fantastic deal for the price considering the typical price of a bomber of super-premium beer.